Georgia teenager wins national Spring Cup Debate Tournament
c/o Eloquence Academy
Eloquence Academy is pleased to announce the results of its 2nd Annual Spring Cup Debate Tournament.
The tournament was open to any student, in any country, enrolled in an accredited primary school, secondary school, or debate club. From March 15, 2024 through March 16, 2024, the tournament welcomed over 80 impressive competitors from five states. With middle and high school divisions, students competed in teams of two on the timely topic of whether the United States federal government should ban single-use plastics, considering past precedent as well as the economic, environmental, and legal implications.
Each partnership competed in up to eight debate rounds with eight speeches and three cross-examinations per round. Students utilized their previous research and vast knowledge of the topic to craft articulate, powerful ideas. Each and every speech reflected excellence in public speaking, rhetorical skills, critical thinking, and social awareness.
“We are incredibly proud of our participants and the thoughtful yet eager responses they brought to the tournament,” said Spencer Chaisanguanthum, Chief Executive Officer of Eloquence Academy. “We are equally grateful for our volunteers, implementation partners, and donors who helped bring this idea to life. By empowering students to research, understand, and advocate, we are developing the next generation of dynamic leaders and changemakers who can tackle society’s most complex problems head-on.”
Participants were judged by some of the foremost leaders in the field of public speaking and public policy on a range of criteria including creativity, the clarity and relevance of their message, ability to incorporate research, and delivery. We extend congratulations to Nathaniel Dsilva from the Matthew Munchkin Academy in Atlanta, Georgia for placing first, emerging out of a competitive pool. Kathy Feng and Julianna Shi from the Potomac Debate Academy in Rockville, Maryland won first place in the middle school division.
In addition to Dsilva, Feng, and Shi, we recognize the following students:
High School Public Forum
Runners-up Lucas Aronson and Aaron Basnyet (Pembroke Pines Charter in Southwest Ranches, FL)
Semifinalists Anish Agarwal and Vyas Vishnukumar (CMS Southlake Junior in Southlake, TX)
Semifinalists Anya Khanna and Zaliah Kumaran (Potomac Debate Academy in Rockville, MD)
Top Speaker Nathaniel Dsilva (Matthew Munchkin Academy in GA)
2nd Speaker Aaron Basnyet (Pembroke Pines Charter in Southwest Ranches, FL)
3rd Speaker Vyas Vishnukumar (CMS Southlake Junior in Southlake, TX)
Middle School Public Forum
Runners-up Aahaan Jain and Shrivatsa Joisha (Joaquin Miller Middle School in San Jose, CA)
Semifinalists Mariam Altemimi and Iniya Amarnath (Golden State Academy in Fremont, CA)
Semifinalists Theo Haddad and William Lv (King’s Academy in Sunnyvale, CA)
Quarterfinalists Adit Agarwal and Zeqi An (Golden State Academy in Fremont, CA)
Quarterfinalists Theo Haddad and William Lv (King’s Academy in Sunnyvale, CA)
Quarterfinalists Kavya Jain and Vivaan Syal (Golden State Academy in Fremont, CA)
Quarterfinalists Sophia Xu and Samantha Yeung (Joaquin Miller Middle School in San Jose, CA)
Octafinalists Bhavana Heggadahalli and Arshia Ramesh (Potomac Debate Academy in Rockville, MD)
Top Speaker Madhav Mehta (CMS Southlake Junior in Southlake, TX)
2nd Speaker Theo Haddad (King’s Academy in Sunnyvale, CA)
3rd Speaker Shrivatsa Joisha (Joaquin Miller Middle School in San Jose, CA)
For more information about the tournament, or to inquire about the 2025 edition and future competition(s), please visit eloquenceacademy.org or contact finance@eloquenceacademy.org.
###
Eloquence Academy, Inc. is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization and 509(a)(2) public charity dedicated to increasing equitable academic debate opportunities for rural and historically underserved students. The Academy offers debate classes, summer camps, workshops, tournaments, in-school programs, and online resources for 2,200+ students across 35 states and 15 countries. Ultimately, EA aims to prepare youth for college readiness, career engagement, and community impact through the transferable skills gained from debate.
